“Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees

Despite a robust body of literature related to how institutions of higher education help prepare students for the workforce after graduation, little research has explored the lived experiences of Students of Colour as they reflect on their undergraduate employment as it relates to their development...

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Main Authors: Christopher Burnett, Zach Taylor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Deakin University 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/1892
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author Christopher Burnett
Zach Taylor
author_facet Christopher Burnett
Zach Taylor
author_sort Christopher Burnett
collection DOAJ
description Despite a robust body of literature related to how institutions of higher education help prepare students for the workforce after graduation, little research has explored the lived experiences of Students of Colour as they reflect on their undergraduate employment as it relates to their development of marketable skills. Moreover, no studies have engaged with Graduates of Colour to understand whether they developed emotional intelligence as undergraduate student employees. To fill a considerable gap in the literature, this qualitative study, framed by Salovey and Mayer’s (1990) model of emotional intelligence, explored the undergraduate student affairs (student support) employment experiences of 12 Graduates of Colour (now professionals) to understand how they developed emotional intelligence to be more successful employees and leaders in their respective workplaces. The findings suggest Graduates of Colour developed all four tenets of emotional intelligence during their undergraduate employment experience, with direct impacts on their work in their careers. Implications for research and practice in universities are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-40630a679be54b43a0fd4eba740b3fb12025-08-20T01:49:32ZengDeakin UniversityJournal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability1838-38152025-04-0116110.21153/jtlge2025vol16no1art1892“Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employeesChristopher Burnett0Zach Taylor1Colorado CollegeThe University of Southern Mississippi Despite a robust body of literature related to how institutions of higher education help prepare students for the workforce after graduation, little research has explored the lived experiences of Students of Colour as they reflect on their undergraduate employment as it relates to their development of marketable skills. Moreover, no studies have engaged with Graduates of Colour to understand whether they developed emotional intelligence as undergraduate student employees. To fill a considerable gap in the literature, this qualitative study, framed by Salovey and Mayer’s (1990) model of emotional intelligence, explored the undergraduate student affairs (student support) employment experiences of 12 Graduates of Colour (now professionals) to understand how they developed emotional intelligence to be more successful employees and leaders in their respective workplaces. The findings suggest Graduates of Colour developed all four tenets of emotional intelligence during their undergraduate employment experience, with direct impacts on their work in their careers. Implications for research and practice in universities are discussed. https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/1892Graduates of ColourStudents of Colourcollege studentsemotional intelligenceemployabilitycareer readiness
spellingShingle Christopher Burnett
Zach Taylor
“Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
Graduates of Colour
Students of Colour
college students
emotional intelligence
employability
career readiness
title “Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
title_full “Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
title_fullStr “Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
title_full_unstemmed “Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
title_short “Physically present, but emotionally present, too”: Graduates of Colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
title_sort physically present but emotionally present too graduates of colour developing emotional intelligence as student employees
topic Graduates of Colour
Students of Colour
college students
emotional intelligence
employability
career readiness
url https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/article/view/1892
work_keys_str_mv AT christopherburnett physicallypresentbutemotionallypresenttoograduatesofcolourdevelopingemotionalintelligenceasstudentemployees
AT zachtaylor physicallypresentbutemotionallypresenttoograduatesofcolourdevelopingemotionalintelligenceasstudentemployees